Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-07-28
INFECTIOUS DRUNKENNESS.
Reformed Men Who Have shown Signs OF
IntoxicatIon from Contagfon.

Reformed Men Who Have Shown Signs OF
IntoxicatIon from Contagfon.
There are cases Of reformed men who
show signs Of intoxication from the con.
tontagion of others who are drunkards.
The following is an example, says the
London Exchange; A prominent ex-
military man who had drunk moderately
once, while attending dinner with his
old comrades, where most of them were
intoxicated, suddenly became hilarious
made foolish speech, settled back In his
chair in drunken state, and was finally
taken home quite stupid. He had not
drank any spirits and had only used cof-
fee and water, and yet he had all the
symptoms of the others, only his was In
toxication from contagion; the favoring
soil had been prepared long ago in the
army.
Another case was that of man who
had been an inebriate years ago, but had
reformed. lie was recently elected 10 Of
flee, and gave dinner to some friends.
Among them was physician who has
been greatly interested in these studies.
He sent me long report, the substance
Of which is this: On the occasion referred
to many of the company became partially
intoxicated, and the host, who drank
nothing but water, became hilarious, and
finally stupid, with them. He was put
to bed with every sign Of intoxication,
but recovered, and next morning had only
q confused notion of these events.
The third case occurred four years ago.
A reformed man of twelve years sobriety,
went on military excursion with drink
ing company, and, although he drank
nothing but lemonade, became as much
intoxicated as the others. This event
was the subject of much comment and
loss to him, socially and otherwise, al
though he protested, and others confirmed
his statements, that he did not take any
spirits at this time. In these cases two
conditions were prescnt--One In which
some special unknown nerve state was
inherited, which readily reflected alco-
holic states from contagion; the other, in
which this particular alcoholic state had
been acquired and more readily respond
ed to contagious surroundings than other
wise.
Thus actors who essay to represent in
sanity or inebriety arc successful in pro.
portion as they inherit nervous organ.
ization prcdisposing them to these affec.
tions. A single glass of spirits may
awaken latent nerve defect and soon
after merge into inebriety. So the effort
to initiate the manner and conduct of an
organism that will be permanent. An
actor, greatly praised for his skill as Ham.
let, was obliged to leave the stage for the
reason that this character was becoming
so intimately his Us to suggest insanity at
Y an early day. Aman who acted tho part
OF drunken man was, after time, sc
completely intoxicated as to be unfit fol
his part. He could not use spirits and
had to give up his part In the play fol
the same reason as mentioned above.
| A remarkable incident of this kind
came to my notice. A temperance writel
of great power and vividness OF detail sale
that he lived all the details of the hero hC
was describing In his own mind. Wher
the character was intoxicated he had al
tho symptoms and had to go to bed aftel
| writing that the hero did SO. He esuffered
was exhausted, had pain, mental agony
was joyous, happy, contented, and live(
every event which he described. Thi
man was strictly temperate, but had
drunken father, fro. .,Thom he inherited
puculiar nervous Organization that CAV,
him power to realize the toxic state from
alcohol and throw himself into II mos
perfectly. He says that 1t would impai
his health to write more on this theme
for he would be intoxicated most of til,
time while writing.
Many of these states may be termed
emotional trance states, and some curious
and wonderful psychological discoveries
For instance, reformed men, or those WHIT
have recently stopped the use of spirits
can not safely listen to n recital of th,
suGerings and struggles of others to be
come temperate without taking on som,
form of mental shock that Is fatal to thei
own resolutions. The more wildly ant
accurately the struggles Of drunkard ar,
described the more certainly the vii
hearer is weakened and rendered impot
ent to help itself. Temperance lecturer
| who hope by painting the horrors O.
drink so vividly to deter any one In tn,
audience from falling In that way arr
deceived, and produce the very effec
they seek to remedy.